Randstad: U.S. Employee Confidence Edges Up in September

NEW YORK, Oct. 4, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Randstad's Employee Confidence Index rose 0.8 points to 52.4 in September, and was 7.6 points higher than the year low of 44.8 in September 2011.  According to the Index, employees are feeling more confident in the future of their current employers and are indicating a higher level of job security than this past August.  In fact, 56 percent of workers report that they are not planning to job search in the next 12 months even though more indicated a greater sense of optimism in their ability to find alternative employment.

"The Index grew slightly this month to reflect workers sustained confidence in the job market and increased optimism in their personal employment situation," said Jim Link, managing director of Human Resources for Randstad U.S. "Despite the subtle rise in the Index, workers and employers alike, are still exercising caution when it comes to job searching and hiring. As we approach the fourth quarter, many economists predict to see more of the same when it comes to economic growth until we see more job creation and consumer spending."

The online survey was conducted by Harris Interactive on behalf of Randstad. It surveyed 1,601 employed U.S. adults, aged 18 and over between September 11-13, 2012.

Look Inside the Report:

Employee Confidence Edges Up

• The Employee Confidence Index increased by 0.8-points in September, registering at 52.4
• This is 7.6 points higher than the confidence level recorded one year ago

Employees Remain Split Around Confidence in Economy

• Most employees (73 percent) believe the economy is getting weaker or staying the same
• However, just over one quarter, 27 percent, of workers believe the economy is getting stronger, (versus 26 percent in August)

Future of Employer and Job Security Indicators Gain Strength

• In September, 63 percent of employees indicated increased confidence in their company's future (from 59 percent in August)
• Employees also continue to indicate a high level of job security within their current positions, with 74 percent indicating it is not likely they will lose their jobs (compared to 71 percent last month)

Workers Confidence Holds in Ability to Find a Job, Half believe fewer jobs available

• Forty-five percent of employees are confident in their ability to find a new job, a number that has held steady throughout 2012
• However, half of employees (53 percent) also indicate that there are fewer jobs available (showing no change from the previous month)

The Randstad U.S. Employee Confidence Index measures workforce trends across the country since 2004.

About Harris Interactive

Methodology
This September 2012 Randstad Employment Tracker was conducted online within the United States by Harris Interactive on behalf of Randstad between September 11-13, 2012 among a U.S. sample of 1,601 employed adults, aged 18 years and older. Results were weighted as needed for age, sex, race/ethnicity, income, education, and region. Propensity score weighting was also used to adjust for respondents' propensity to be online.

All sample surveys and polls, whether or not they use probability sampling, are subject to multiple sources of error which are most often not possible to quantify or estimate, including sampling error, coverage error, error associated with nonresponse, error associated with question wording and response options, and post-survey weighting and adjustments. Therefore, Harris Interactive avoids the words "margin of error" as they are misleading. All that can be calculated are different possible sampling errors with different probabilities for pure, unweighted, random samples with 100% response rates. These are only theoretical because no published polls come close to this ideal.

Respondents for this survey were selected from among those who have agreed to participate in Harris Interactive surveys. The data have been weighted to reflect the composition of the U.S. adult population. Because the sample is based on those who agreed to be invited to participate in the Harris Interactive online research panel, no estimates of theoretical sampling error can be calculated.

About Randstad
Randstad is a $22.5 billion global provider of HR services and the second largest staffing organization in the world. From temporary staffing to permanent placement to inhouse, professionals, search & selection, and HR Solutions, Randstad holds top positions around the world and has approximately 28,700 corporate employees working from its nearly 4,700 branches and inhouse locations in 40 countries. Founded in 1960 and headquartered in Diemen, the Netherlands, Randstad Holding nv is listed on the NYSE Euronext Amsterdam.

Learn more at http://www.randstad.com.     

SOURCE Randstad